Don't just stay in Tahiti( there are not many/no good beaches here), go to the neighboring island Moorea if you want great beaches and affordable over-water bungalows. They're cheaper here than for instance Bora Bora.
You could also take a look at the following websites:
http://www.tahiti.com/
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/

If you need some more information, don't hesitate to ask me.

Jan Verberk.

Have been to Moorea twice - both times in February and am planning my third trip Feb. 1999. Please e-mail me with any questions. You'll love it there.

I hope you don't mind my responding to your posting. WeI am also planning a honeymoon to Tahiti (in March). We saw the tahiti-explorer web page and have an idea of where we want to go. When you were there, where did you stay? The package we are considering (Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine) puts us only in Sofitels, but we can probably upgrade. I really want to stay in the Hotel Bora Bora, but is it worth it? And do you know how the Parkroyals compare to the Sofitels?

I hope you don't mind my responding to your posting. WeI am also planning a honeymoon to Tahiti (in March). We saw the tahiti-explorer web page and have an idea of where we want to go. When you were there, where did you stay? The package we are considering (Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine) puts us only in Sofitels, but we can probably upgrade. I really want to stay in the Hotel Bora Bora, but is it worth it? And do you know how the Parkroyals compare to the Sofitels?

We stayed at Hotel Bali Hai on Moorea (one of the cheaper hotels but we absolutely loved it and the staff). They even remembered us for our second stay which was two years later!! We wouldn't even think of trying another place. You'll have to decide how fancy a place you want to stay. Have heard some of the fancier places are rather snotty. Just keep looking up info on the Internet - there are a lot of write-ups about the hotels. If you fail to find that, let me know and I can give you some websites etc.

Good luck!

Eric, the Lonely Planet book 'Tahiti & French Polynesia' is excellent. We were in FP earlier this year. We like to stay at the smaller places as we get to meet more of the locals and find everything so much more relaxed. It is really a matter of what your expectations are. The upmarket hotels like the Sofitel and the Beachcomber ParkRoyals are beautiful, it seemed mostly Americans stay there, and out of the way of things. We had one meal at the Beachcomber on Bora Bora and it cost us more than a week's meals at where we were staying.You will have a wonderful time wherever you stay, just make sure you understand that everything is probably double what you will pay anywhere else. If you would like me to email you some photo's let me know. Peg.

My first choice for honeymoon accommodations on the island of Moorea would at the Sofitel's Ia Ora, located on one of the most beautiful beaches on Moorea, in one of their beautiful overwater bungalows. Next choice would be the Parkroyal Hotel a much larger property and then with the true older "Polynesian" flavor is the Bali Hai Hotels. I would also venture over to some of the new hotels on Bora Bora that are located on their own private motu! (little island.) Email for more information on those wonderful exotic islands that I have been traveling too for the last 17 years!

Of all the comments I've heard about FP, I think you're one of the only people that hasn't stayed at those high priced hotels. We are going to Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine in Septemeber so I was wondering what hotels you stayed at?